Warning - This article contains major spoilers for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings introduced new characters and creatures into the ever-changing Marvel Cinematic Universe, and one of them was the Dark Gate's Dweller-in-Darkness.
Marketing for Shang-Chi established the idea that Tony Leung's Wenwu aka the Mandarin was the main villain of the Marvel film, but the Simu Liu-led project surprised everyone when the final battle unveiled a kaiju-sized evil creature straight from the Dark Gates.
In the film, Wenwu was determined to destroy the Dark Gates to free his wife, but it was ultimately revealed that he was being manipulated by the extradimensional being for freedom. As a result, the final battle showcased an intense battle between Ta-lo's Great Protector and the Dweller-in-Darkness, with Shang-Chi helping the former.
Now, an official keyframe from the Phase 4 entry surfaced that will remind fans of what went down during the final battle.
Shang-Chi Keyframe Unveils Major Finale Scene
Marvel Studios concept artist and Director of Visual Development Andy Park shared an official Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings keyframe, showcasing a major final battle moment between Simu Liu's MCU hero and the Dweller-in-Darkness.
Shang-Chi's Epic Dragon Battle
Shang-Chi was able to showcase a final battle that had never been done before in the MCU, and this keyframe is a fitting reminder of that achievement. While Simu Liu's titular Marvel hero is still front and center in the official art, many would agree that the two dragons in the background are taking the spotlight.
It's worth pointing out that the inclusion of Ta-Lo's Great Protector was already known ahead of the film's theatrical debut, but the presence of the Dweller-in-Darkness was one of the project's tightly-guarded secrets. As a result, it's reasonable to assume that the extradimensional monster's entrance in the final battle would likely have made an impact on fans.
In the pages of Marvel Comics, the Dweller-in-Darkness is not a dragon. Instead, the creature resembles a man with a giant head who is one of five beings known as Fear Lords. The entity hails from Everinnye, a dimension that also houses the Doctor Strange villain known as Nightmare.
Given that Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton already confirmed that the mid-credits scene is firmly rooted in the comics, it's possible that the MCU's Dweller-in-Darkness has a connection to the live-action Nightmare, meaning that the Ten Rings' beacon could be for the Fear Lords.
Shang-Chi cemented the fact that the Dweller-In-Darkness died during the final battle, so it remains to be seen if the creature will return to spell doom for Ta-Lo and Earth. Still, there's a chance that the creature will make a comeback down the line considering that it hails from a different dimension.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is now playing in theaters worldwide.
